BPO sensitisation series starts with a bang

Western Bureau:

The Business Process Industry Association of Jamaica (BPIAJ) series of workshops, which is designed to help players in small and medium-size enterprises to become more proficient, got off to an encouraging start last weekend with scores of potential investors and small operators showing up for the first event at the J. Wray & Nephew Auditorium in New Kingston.

The series, which is designed to sensitise small and medium-size enterprise players on how to be professional and proficient in their service delivery in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, saw presentations by experts in the field

A key feature of the first workshop was the presentation made by Davon Crump, the CEO of Global Outsourcing Solutions; and Yoni Epstein, the founder of ItelBPO Smart Solutions, who are considered experts in the local BPO sector.

"The feedback from the participants tells us that there is significant interest from the Jamaican investing committee to develop a dynamic domestic market," said BPIAJ boss Gloria Henry. "It was very instructive to hear some of the questions that were asked, even from existing operators, and it shows that there has to be a greater level of engagement between the experienced and those up-and-coming in the industry."

Other presentations were made by Claude Duncan, the vice-president of investment promotions at JAMPRO; Woodrow Smallwood, business development manager at Sagicor Bank; Lancedale Farquharson, operations manager of CEAC Outsourcing; and Andrew Fazio, director of BPO and hospitality at Cable and Wireless Business Jamaica.

Helping BPO sector gain best practice information access

"This series is significant for the sector as we seek to help business process outsourcing (BPO)/small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) gain access to best-practice information that will help them improve operational excellence and to find smart solutions that can cater to their growing needs," stated Gloria Henry, about the workshops being staged by Business Process Industry Association of Jamaica (BPIAJ).

"A significant number of the BPIAJ's cluster membership comprises SMEs, and it is vitally important that we provide them with the support and directive to expand and grow."

The BPO sector has been identified as the main driver of the country's growth agenda and is projecting that it will create 100,000 BPO jobs over the next five years.

It should be noted that the BPO sector enjoys the highest employment growth rate of any sector in the last decade and currently accounts for more than 22,000 jobs across the island. It is also contributing more than US$400 million annually to the local economy.

The sensitisation series will next stop in Montego Bay at a date and location to be announced.